Letters to the Editor

True courage shown by Itawamba board
I’m not surprised anymore but I’m still saddened every time I see the Journal use its editorial pages to trash the motto it prints on the front page. I specifically refer to the articles by Lena Mitchell and Leonard Pitts in the Sunday, March 21, edition.
Lena Mitchell’s article was her personal response to the Itawamba County School Board’s decision to cancel the prom at IAHS rather than legitimize homosexuality in front of their student body. She began by stating “… I feel a need to add my bit of perspective to the mix.” I realize Mitchell makes her living writing articles, but actually the only perspective that matters is God’s perspective, which is clearly presented in Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:18-32, Malachi 3:6a, and many other places in His word.
After just a bit of Bible study one must either reject God’s authority or come to a number of obvious conclusions. First, God forbids homosexuality (sodomy) in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and God does not change with the times. Second, homosexuality is listed with a number of other sinful behaviors, not innate characteristics. God never condemns anyone for traits over which they have no control; height, skin color, sex and such. God condemns people for rebelling against Him by participating in sinful behavior like murder, adultery, lying, stealing or sodomy. One last conclusion is that not only are we to abstain from such practices, we are not to “ … approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32 NIV)
Lena Mitchell applauded this homosexual student at IAHS as a “ … courageous young woman.” The truly courageous people in this situation are Superintendent McNeece and the Itawamba County School Board who made the difficult, but biblical, decision not to put the school’s stamp of approval on something God clearly forbids. God is good, God is merciful and kind, but God is also holy.Dan Bishop
Baldwyn

Bill Minor castigated for spewing ‘vitriol’
There he goes again, Bill Minor, spreading his hate-mongering vitriol in a newspaper dedicated to the service of God and mankind.
His latest “opinion,” it is certainly not “journalism,” published April 1, April Fool’s Day, no less, proves him to be the fool.
He quoted Rep. John Lewis, certainly not an unbiased, credible witness, that “a hate-breathing mob resembling escaped inmates from a nut house hurled racial slurs and even spat upon black legislators for voting for the health care bill – a misnomer – as they entered the Capitol.” Has he viewed the tape? It’s available on the Fox News Network. Not one shred of evidence would indicate that racial slurs were uttered, and the only indication of “spitting” comes from a man shouting through cupped hands and should properly be described as “spittle,” not an overt act of “spitting.”
He states that 34 million Americans and 359,000 Mississippians with no health insurance will be extended coverage. Americans, Mr. Minor. He is certain or is it not probably that these numbers include illegal immigrants? It certainly extends health care to citizens who have never worked, will never work, never paid a penny into the Social Security system and whose only purpose in life is to suckle at the “government teat” of the “Nanny State” America has become. He might review the SSI disability programs for adults and disabled children, federal housing assistance, food stamps, utility assistance, Medicaid, free breakfast and lunches in the public schools, welfare and all other assistance programs provided by Americans who (gasp!) work and pay taxes. He might also take note of the fact on the very day his article was published, the Social Security system paid out more in benefits than was received in taxes. Trust fund, he says?
There is not one penny in the SSA trust fund.
What we have here is the end result of left wing, liberal, socialist programs advocated by Minor and his Democrat pals. Well, got to go now. I’ve got a “tea party” in Tupelo to attend.David C. Horn
Houston

Proposed annexee lives in fully developed tract
My family and I moved to Tupelo in 1968 and I worked for 38 plus years for a local bank.
My two children and three of my grandchildren attended and graduated from the Tupelo Public Schools.
We lived in the city until I retired from my job, at which time we sold our home and built outside the city limits.
Our new home is on a cul-de-sac about 3/4 mile from the Pontotoc County line and all lots on this road have been sold.
We still have to pay Tupelo city school tax in this location.
The only benefit we get from the city of Tupelo currently is that we spend our money purchasing goods and services.
The city states that the annexation is necessary due to the fact that they have run out of land on which to expand.
My road is on the current annexation plan, and I don’t think that this road with some very nice homes will give them any room to expand.
I probably wouldn’t feel so bad about another government takeover of some more of my rights if they would just say why they want this area in their city – which is for the express purpose to collect more taxes.Jerry Palmer
Lee County/Tupelo

Requested: Repeat of symphony ‘cartoon’
Would it be possible to repeat the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra’s Cartoon Classics for those of us who missed it? Please, Mr. Byers and Mrs. Murphy!Peggy H. Campbell
Pontotoc

Villas resident supports Tupelo annexation plan
I live in Natchez Trace Villas. I think if Tupelo needs to annex us, I am all for it, even if it costs me money. We need to look beyond today and our own selfish interests and think about our children, grandchildren and the greater good of Lee County and Tupelo, which is hub and center of commerce for Lee County and benefits everyone therein. Yet the supervisors don’t act like they are aware of it. The people of Tupelo need to get together next election and elect someone who lives in the city and someone who really knows and cares about Lee County and Tupelo. Example, people like Jerry Bristow and Peggy Caldwell. Darrel Rankin does live in Tupelo and I believe he’s against it. People in his district know what to do. We need equal representation for Lee County and Tupelo.
Tupelo’s population is approximately 36,000 and the remainder of Lee County outside Tupelo is approximately 45,000 (these are 2008 figures). Tupelo pays about 60.5 percent of all Lee County taxes.
The city has not helped with its blunders. The only winners have been the lawyers.
Tupelo has to grow for the city to prosper. We need zoning laws controlling property use, building codes, protection of property rights. Plus more services like full time fire protection, police, sewage and water. Speaking of water, consumers in North Lee Water Association awhile ago were under a boil water notice. Tupelo citizens have no problems with their water.
The city helped the county awhile back involving an apartment complex. When the county didn’t have power, the city stepped in and helped. Why can’t the county step in and help the city sometimes? People in the City of Tupelo pay city and county taxes. What if the people of Tupelo just paid city taxes?Joseph L. “Bill” Shirley
Natchez Trace Villas

Get the money answers about the railroad study
In the March 28 edition of the Daily Journal, Jim High wrote a column “Railroad study: $2 million-appears to be a boondoggle.”
In this well written op-ed piece, High expresses his frustration about $2 million that was awarded five years ago to do a study of the Crosstown railroad situation. Included in this article were expressions about the frustrations High has had in trying to find out how the $2 million was spent.
In the April 3, Norma Fields presented a historical perspective about the difficulty she had as a reporter getting financial information from what is now the Department of Transportation, and lauds High’s efforts to find out happened to the $2 million.
Over the years I have kept up with this supposed study, and I have now become very angry. I am mad over three things:
– Why we had to have such a study to begin with?
– Why can’t we get answers on how the money was spent?
– Finally, why does nobody care?
We hear nothing out of the Department of Transportation, the Board of Supervisors, Tupelo City Council, or the mayor of Tupelo. Also, we have heard nothing out of Sen. Roger Wicker (then Rep. Wicker) who took credit for the getting the original $2 million. It appears to me he would not want his name linked to a “boondoggle.”
Perhaps Treasurer Tate Reeves, who spends his time writing political criticisms, would do the duties of his job and could help find the money.
There is no question the $2 million was awarded. Who got the money, when were the checks written, and what were the amounts of the checks? This is just basic bookkeeping procedure, unless someone has something they do not want us to know about.
I would like to ask the Tea Party group, if they are truly interested in pursuing good government, and not just electing Republican candidates, to expend some of their energy in helping to obtain answers.
This issue is not going away, and the longer our elected officials delay in providing the truth to the public, the greater the opportunity this thing will begin to “smell.”
Dick Johnson
Tupelo

General public needs U.S. Postal Service mail
In recent news it has been stated that postal delivery will no longer be available for delivery on Saturdays due to the majority of the population relying on Internet service for e-mails. Not only will this put hundreds of employees out of work, but it will also limit the communication between people who don’t have Internet or computer skills. We live in a fast paced world that not everybody is capable of keeping up with.
E-mails can’t provide touch, smell or the comfort of holding a loved one’s photo. Small children often write distant relatives and loved ones. An e-mail can’t produce the progress the child is making at his or her handwriting skills. E-mail can’t be collected along with photographs and letters in scrapbooks or photo albums where they can be cherished forever. While e-mails are fast and convenient, they have no lasting value.
Thousands of postal workers rely on the regular mail system for their jobs. It may take a few days longer to reach its destination, but shouldn’t we all use the postal service once in a while to keep history alive?
What will happen if the post office goes out of business? Who will deliver the Christmas cards, birthday cards and other packages that are relied upon? Things that are sent on holidays and other occasions, when you mail things through the postal service, you’re sending more than photos or letters. You are sending actual memories that can be cherished forever.
That is something you can hold on to forever and pass on to future generations, not just something you can read and delete. Even with an Internet photo gallery, pictures can be lost and never replaced. This is why I feel that everybody should use the postal service every once in a while.Christine Roach
Mantachie